Media Releases 2010

  • 16 July 2010

    New College Board Member

    David Moore, managing director of LECG Asia Pacific, has been appointed to the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners Board. He has extensive connections and networks in health, and policy experience of the sector. read more

  • 29 April 2010

    College Welcomes Tobacco Tax increase Bill

    WELLINGTON – 28 April 2010 – The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners is welcoming the introduction to the House of a Bill to increase tobacco excise tax by 10% with immediate effect and congratulates Minister Turia on this important work. This follows recent advice from the College and other organisations. read more

  • 21 April 2010

    College of GPs Calls For Tax Increase on Tobacco

    WELLINGTON – 21 April 2010 – In a recent letter to the Prime Minister, The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners supported increasing the excise tax on tobacco as one measure to reduce smoking rates in New Zealand. The letter also advocates for dedicating extra tax income from the increase to smoking cessation programmes, especially targeting low income earners, Māori and Pacific smokers, at-risk youth and patients with chronic illnesses whose health is further compromised by smoking. read more

  • 1 April 2010

    GPs and Pharmacists Join Forces to Improve Patient Outcomes

    Two bodies representing the vast majority of pharmacists and general practitioners in New Zealand have formed a new alliance. The Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand (PSNZ) and the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the main aim of improving use of medicines through enhanced collaboration between GPs and pharmacists. read more

  • 16 March 2010

    Promise in GP Intervention for Smoking Cessation

    WELLINGTON – 10 March 2010 – Despite considerable progress in tobacco control, more than one in five New Zealanders still smoke tobacco regularly and smoking prevalence is much higher for Pacific peoples (28%) and Maori (44%). read more

  • 22 February 2010

    Specialist GP Training Vital

    The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners welcomes today’s statement by Professor Des Gorman of Health Workforce New Zealand that GPs need to be a key focus in future medical workforce planning. Professor Gorman said: “If you ask me what group of the senior doctors I am most anxious about it’s actually the GPs. That’s where the utility sits and that’s where if we are to have a cost effective, sustainable and affordable health system we need to put our emphasis.” read more

  • 12 February 2010

    CORNERSTONE Improves Quality and Safety

    Opening the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners’ Quality Symposium in Wellington today, Health Minister Tony Ryall thanked the College, general practices and GPs for their leadership in improving public healthcare quality and safety through CORNERSTONE. read more

  • 12 February 2010

    RNZCGP Quality Symposium Starts

    WELLINGTON – 12 February 2010 – The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners’ annual Quality Symposium opened in Wellington this morning. read more